Column – The Emily Angle: The American Dream is made, not handed down

During a contentious election year like this one, many throw around the term “American Dream” flippantly. The American Dream has morphed over time and evolved into something those a century ago would marvel over. Some in my generation, however, have subscribed to entitlement, or the notion that this dream should be handed to them. 

We are a passionate people with ambitions that have surpassed those of our predecessors, and this should only strengthen our resolve to preserve this dream. The American Dream is not, and never has been, a given. It must be fought hard over and labored for. 

A trace of the American Dream is found in the pen strokes of Thomas Jefferson as he wrote, “We the People” and stated that all men are created equal. Even though the term had not yet been created, elements of this dream are evident in the attitudes and opinions of Americans from the very beginning of the nation’s founding.

James Truslow Adams coined the term “American Dream” in his 1931 bestseller, “The Epic of America,” according to JSTOR Daily. Adams defined this concept as “a dream of a social order in which each man and woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” He later more simply put it as a “dream of a better, richer and happier life for all our citizens of every rank.” 

Adams wrote these idealistic words in the midst of the Great Depression when production had plummeted, and over 20% of Americans faced unemployment. The American Dream seemed dead for some, yet in conditions like these, it is often strengthened. 

In the U.S., upward mobility is possible and the status you were born into does not define how far you will go. Dr. Ben Carson’s story is a shining example of the this. 

Carson, an African American at the bottom of his elementary class being raised by a single mother in Detroit, was born into a low socioeconomic status. Carson went on to graduate with honors from Yale University, become a world-renowned neurosurgeon, receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, run for president and earn a spot on the executive cabinet in the White House. His background did not limit the trajectory of his life when he sought opportunity. 

The beauty of this is that everyone is within reach of the American Dream, regardless of circumstances. The American Dream is to build a life from the ground up and provide a better tomorrow, which looks overwhelmingly different for each individual. The concept of the American Dream is simple; the execution of the American Dream is not, and some must work harder to obtain it. 

 “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” former President Ronald Reagan said. “We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” 

We must steward well the American Dream to preserve it for our children. Elements of the American Dream are alive in each of us, but this is something we must fight for in order for it to persist. The American Dream is made, not handed down. 

We are a country of both dreamers and doers. We have made it to the moon and back and spanned freedom across a continent, with plans to venture even further into uncharted territory.  

The American Dream has weathered war and segregation and poverty and terrorism. It is threatened often but always worth fighting for. The backbone of this dream is the underlying message that we each have the chance to build a life better than the one handed to us. 

The American Dream is not defined by birth, race or class. The American Dream is not a far-off concept obtained by a few. The American Dream is not the heartless chase of money and fame. Instead, it is a noble pursuit to improve our tomorrow, which requires hard work and commitment. Whether we choose to pursue this or not is up to us.

The American Dream has evolved over time, but the underlying message remains. The American spirit, which fuels the American Dream, will continue to prevail as long as we fight for it. 

Wood is the editor-in-chief. Follow her on Twitter.